Topic: RAWK IT professionals - any career advice?

[PaulF]

I have the option of going into a freelance consultancy role but looking at the figures, I have to consider sick pay, holiday pay, car allowance, life insurance, health insurance, critical illness cover, dental plan, holiday insurance, and so many other benefits I get from being a full time employee in my current role.  It's not just how much it would cost you to replace all of those things but the cost of finding the best deals, the cost of renewing them each year, the time to do tax returns, being away from home, etc etc that make being employed a much easier way of life than contracting.  Obviously that's not the case for everyone but for me I don't think the maths really adds up.

You get holiday insurance??? Lucky bugger.

[Mark Walters]

You get holiday insurance??? Lucky bugger.

Wrong word. Travel insurance, yes. For me and the kids.

[PaulF]

Wrong word. Travel insurance, yes. For me and the kids.

Still, that's a decent perk .

Have we got any DBAs in here? Im swotting for a SQL server job interview. 

[John C]

Liverpool City Council are looking for a technical specialist, £40k I think. You've prob got a couple of days to apply.

[Malaysian Kopite]

Liverpool City Council are looking for a technical specialist, £40k I think. You've prob got a couple of days to apply.

Saw a couple of roles at the club itself on LinkedIn a few months back

[rob1966]

Anyone got any decent sources for learning Python?

Being using Ingres 4GL ABF/sql since 2001, done a bit of C, C#.

Company has decided rather than carry on with the rewrite we are supposed to do, they will replace us in about 12 months with a bought in system, built from scratch (we already know from dealing with the new developers its going to be an absolute piece of shit and won't work but will fuck the company up good and proper, but they know better) so looking at learning Python as I've been told its in the top 5 languages to know right now

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Anyone got any decent sources for learning Python?

Being using Ingres 4GL ABF/sql since 2001, done a bit of C, C#.

Company has decided rather than carry on with the rewrite we are supposed to do, they will replace us in about 12 months with a bought in system, built from scratch (we already know from dealing with the new developers its going to be an absolute piece of shit and won't work but will fuck the company up good and proper, but they know better) so looking at learning Python as I've been told its in the top 5 languages to know right now

It's more of a scripting tool than a language. Though it has many attributes that make it a bit like something like Java. You can code as OOP, Procedurally or as a function language. So you can go way, way beyond it's intended purpose(s) and basically get it to do pretty much anything you like across a large range of platforms.

There are plenty of good sources of info on it. This is probably a good place to start: https://www.python.org/about/gettingstarted/

Also for practice: https://www.w3resource.com/python-exercises/python-basic-exercises.php


The reason that it's popular is that it's very, very forgiving, it's very flexible and extensible and there are loads of different ways you can choose to do things the way you want to do them.

You can even add stuff from other languages, such as the C++ Boost Library (Among many, many others): https://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_61_0/libs/python/doc/html/index.html

[BobOnATank]

Anyone got any decent sources for learning Python?

Being using Ingres 4GL ABF/sql since 2001, done a bit of C, C#.

Company has decided rather than carry on with the rewrite we are supposed to do, they will replace us in about 12 months with a bought in system, built from scratch (we already know from dealing with the new developers its going to be an absolute piece of shit and won't work but will fuck the company up good and proper, but they know better) so looking at learning Python as I've been told its in the top 5 languages to know right now

I'd also recommend Scala and then into Big Data with Scala/Spark, useful with your data background. Wouldn't be difficult after picking up Python. Other thing is continuous integration & deployment (CI/CD) tools such as Jenkins and also agile practices.

[SP]

Look at Oracle and MySQL SQL. Those database skills are transferable, and valuable. I used to be an Informix-4GL dev and have commercially used SQL in Delphi, PHP, Java, JavaScript, Typescript, Go and Bash. And probably more than that. SQL is always a bonus for employers.

[rob1966]

Thanks for the replies.

Look at Oracle and MySQL SQL. Those database skills are transferable, and valuable. I used to be an Informix-4GL dev and have commercially used SQL in Delphi, PHP, Java, JavaScript, Typescript, Go and Bash. And probably more than that. SQL is always a bonus for employers.

What do you do these days?

[SP]

Golang, Android/Java dev and some dev ops for a reasonably mature (on the crypto scale) blockchain company.

Got hired with no Go and no Crypto experience which was an interesting interview as they asked for both...

EDIT: I should add some solidity and typescript in there too.

[Slick_Beef]

Anyone got any decent sources for learning Python?

Hi mate, I have several decent video courses on Python which I can share if you're interested (PM me if you think it could be useful). I am a Java EE dev who is moving jobs in January to a Python/AWS stack so I have a lot to learn over the next few weeks!

[Claire.]

People always seem to recommend the learn python the hard way courses.

[Buck Pete]

Alright Guys

I'm a PM in the Unified Comms/CCaaS space.   Currently in between jobs/contracts and thinking about bagging another qualification to help expand my options when looking for the next contract.

I already have PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner.   

I'm now thinking ITIL4.  Is the "ITIL4 foundation" worth getting as a starting point to strengthen my position for more IT-related PM positions?

[Graeme]

Alright Guys

I'm a PM in the Unified Comms/CCaaS space.   Currently in between jobs/contracts and thinking about bagging another qualification to help expand my options when looking for the next contract.

I already have PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner.   

I'm now thinking ITIL4.  Is the "ITIL4 foundation" worth getting as a starting point to strengthen my position for more IT-related PM positions?

Yeah there's still plenty of organisation's asking for ITIL so it is still relevant. I work in social housing at the moment, but we don't ask for it when we're hiring PM's. They're asked for 'Experience of analysis in either SCRUM, Kanban, Lean or other Agile methodologies.'

I'm actually currently overseeing the technical rollout of our CCaaS platform to colleagues from the housing association we recently merged with.

[jonnypb]

Alright Guys

I'm a PM in the Unified Comms/CCaaS space.   Currently in between jobs/contracts and thinking about bagging another qualification to help expand my options when looking for the next contract.

I already have PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner.   

I'm now thinking ITIL4.  Is the "ITIL4 foundation" worth getting as a starting point to strengthen my position for more IT-related PM positions?

ITIL was huge several years ago and we were all pushed within our organisation to do the training and exams.  Don't hear about it as much anymore, but it's still a good and valid qualification to have, especially if you're contracting.

[Buck Pete]

Yeah there's still plenty of organisation's asking for ITIL so it is still relevant. I work in social housing at the moment, but we don't ask for it when we're hiring PM's. They're asked for 'Experience of analysis in either SCRUM, Kanban, Lean or other Agile methodologies.'

I'm actually currently overseeing the technical rollout of our CCaaS platform to colleagues from the housing association we recently merged with.

Nice one Graeme. I've run lots of projects with Housing associations.  Probably the sector I deal with most, to be honest.

Can I ask which CCaaS you are rolling out?  Just out of curiosity that's all mate

[Graeme]

8x8. It’s already in use within the organisation and we’re just moving the staff from the newly merged HA onto it from Amillan.

[Buck Pete]

8x8. It’s already in use within the organisation and we’re just moving the staff from the newly merged HA onto it from Amillan.

8x8.  Playing with the big boys there.  Nice.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Alright Guys

I'm a PM in the Unified Comms/CCaaS space.   Currently in between jobs/contracts and thinking about bagging another qualification to help expand my options when looking for the next contract.

I already have PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner.   

I'm now thinking ITIL4.  Is the "ITIL4 foundation" worth getting as a starting point to strengthen my position for more IT-related PM positions?

Tried to do ITIL in the past. My brain just can't cope with it.

Fucking weirdest thing I've ever tried to learn and so completely useless** that it's unreal.


**It seems to be useless, most people that tried to pick it up seemed to struggle with it. It's just fucking odd given how useful it was when it first appeared (I used and was involved with the first iteration)

Not sure what the fuck it is now. The courses are kind of words and pictures that are so convoluted and fucking out there, I can't make head nor tail of it.

[Buck Pete]

Tried to do ITIL in the past. My brain just can't cope with it.

Fucking weirdest thing I've ever tried to learn and so completely useless** that it's unreal.


**It seems to be useless, most people that tried to pick it up seemed to struggle with it. It's just fucking odd given how useful it was when it first appeared (I used and was involved with the first iteration)

Not sure what the fuck it is now. The courses are kind of words and pictures that are so convoluted and fucking out there, I can't make head nor tail of it.

Don't think I'm gonna bother with it Andy.

Will look at getting some kind of Agile Qualification. maybe even Scrum.  These were on my radar anyway and Graeme kind of confirmed it in his reply

[Elmo!]

ITIL was good for me to get my first job in IT..... I managed to put myself through it voluntarily without being forced to by an employer. 

Boring as hell but is useful for getting your head round how to manage IT in an enterprise environment.

[Draex]

Alright Guys

I'm a PM in the Unified Comms/CCaaS space.   Currently in between jobs/contracts and thinking about bagging another qualification to help expand my options when looking for the next contract.

I already have PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner.   

I'm now thinking ITIL4.  Is the "ITIL4 foundation" worth getting as a starting point to strengthen my position for more IT-related PM positions?

I've done APMP https://www.apmpuk.co.uk/ Practitioner, I work delivering ERP projects, bit more of an all rounder.

ITIL4 is a bit IT services and post go live support focused but yes good for IT.

Have you thought about the opposite of Prince i.e. an agile one like Scrum? Would give you the ability to flex both waterfall and agile methodologies depending on the project. *Seen Graemes reply, yep an agile one would be really useful, I'm about to do one myself.

It's all the same stuff with different jazzy flow charts

[Buck Pete]

I've done APMP https://www.apmpuk.co.uk/ Practitioner, I work delivering ERP projects, bit more of an all rounder.

Cheers mate.  Will take a look at APMP

As it happens, I just lined up an interview today with a company who have developed an ERP solution for the food industry.  Been bought out by a big player in that industry.  Looking for a PM with SDLC experience etc

Thinking it would be nice to get some ERP experience on my CV.  Lots out there asking for PM's with ERP experience.

[Buck Pete]

Draex

Are you sure you meant APMP?  and not just PMP?

APMP appears to be "The Association of Proposal Management Professionals". 

PMP certification is"Project Management Professional"

Apologies if that is what you meant, but APMP is more suited to bid/proposal professionals. Ie; not me

[Draex]

Draex

Are you sure you meant APMP?  and not just PMP?

APMP appears to be "The Association of Proposal Management Professionals". 

PMP certification is"Project Management Professional"

Apologies if that is what you meant, but APMP is more suited to bid/proposal professionals. Ie; not me

Urgh yes

https://www.apm.org.uk

If you need any help with your latest role happy to help. Worked on 100-1000+ projects and programmes.

[Buck Pete]

Urgh yes

https://www.apm.org.uk

If you need any help with your latest role happy to help. Worked on 100-1000+ projects and programmes.

Oh I thought it was this one

https://www.pmi.org/certifications/project-management-pmp

[Draex]

Oh I thought it was this one

https://www.pmi.org/certifications/project-management-pmp

100% the link I posted, its similar to Prince but much more focused on softer elements of delivery rather than the very process/document heavy Prince (which I did many years ago)!

[Ben S]

Ahhh takes me back to when we were forced to do ITIL foundation.  No idea what version it was, bored me shitless. The only thing I took from it was calling the helpdesk the service desk. Beyond that cant remember a thing.

[Buck Pete]

Ah yes. The APM you reference is a UK body.  The PMI I looked at is more for the USA but globally recognised.

Your APM looks great and is well respected

Which of the 4 APM certs did you get Draex?

[smithy]

I'm a Tech PM with a US based company. They're really into PMI. I'm looking at doing the PMP qualification soon. I'm told it's their equivalent of Prince2. I got the PMI senior scrum master quali a few years back when I was a dev, which I think ultimately helped enable my move to PMO.

[Draex]

Ah yes. The APM you reference is a UK body.  The PMI I looked at is more for the USA but globally recognised.

Your APM looks great and is well respected

Which of the 4 APM certs did you get Draex?

The first two, fundemantals and management (Pmq). The first one is multiple choice, the next is a 3 hour writing exam, had to teach myself to write again using a pen

[Buck Pete]

Cheers Guys

Doing my reading and speaking to my PM contacts, seems there is a mix of APM and PMI cert holders.

Both look valuable to have.

[Buck Pete]

Guys, got an interview for an IT Project manager for a really big player in the Nuclear industry next Friday.  I just need some advice, please.

Please note we require you to create a ten-minute presentation for this interview, please submit this by the close of play on Monday 4th of March 2024.

The presentation is to be completed on 'My project management experience and what I will bring to the company'.

The job description is pretty generic for a PM and they seem to want a bit of an allrounder rather than a specialist.  I'm from a Unified Comms CCaaS/SaaS background but they must see something they like on my CV.

Proven capability to plan and execute a medium / complex IT project and associated business change
(affecting 500+ users) from its inception to delivery including developing and delivering an IT project
execution plan.

Evidence of successful IT Project Delivery such as major IT Infrastructure or Networks Projects, Building Fit-
outs, Data Centres deployments or migrations, major Enterprise Systems or Applications deployments or

upgrades such as Microsoft O365, SAP or SharePoint etc.

Now I can just enhance some juicy points from my CV into a 5/6 slide PP presentation or similar.

Just after some general thoughts on this if you were the one having to sit through it? 

cheers

[Graeme]

Look on Glassdoor for the organisation, usually get some details from former candidates on the interview process.

If your background is CCaaS then that’s a bit niche so probably try and emphasise the integrations with any MS Platforms - Teams, O365, SharePoint, Dynamics CRM etc.


If they’re a big player then you can usually guarantee any platforms they procure will probably have case studies on their website highlighting the organisation as their customer and you if you’ve got any experience with those platforms you can drop that into your interview somewhere.

[PaulF]

Are there any small players in the nuclear industry?
Can't offer advice, but good luck.
Maybe consider prezi instead of PowerPoint.  Hell stand there and pull a moonie while running a video of highlights of the league cup final rather than PowerPoint.

[Draex]

Do you have any examples of governance you wrap around the management of the project (s), so introducing best practice at a previous role.

For example I blended waterfall and agile methodologies into our end to end bau process, including introducing Monday as a platform to support all aspects of delivery, building and adopting new Plan, A & I, Risk, Test Scripts, Cut Over planning tools. This enabled us to drive a flexible one size fits all collaborative way of working with the customer's needs as it's focus. It also included delivered the business change, mentoring/trained new/existing staff.

Try to think of how best to get your softer skills into your day to day operations, like how you build a project team or PMO, how do you get them to aline to the objectives and achieve them i.e. How do you manage people as well as the normal day to day system elements, how do/did you manage the stakeholders, what's your comms strategy.

Can't help you on the nuclear side

[Buck Pete]

Thanks for all the great advice guys (as usual).   I Love RAWK.

Maybe consider prezi instead of PowerPoint. 

Yes, Paul! Just signed up for the Free Prezi 14-day trial.   Holy shit this is good.  Just quickly generated a "PROJECT MANAGER INTERVIEW" presentation using the Prezi AI function.  The resulting presentation is nothing short of brilliant.  I will obviously edit it to include my own experiences and make it more personal (less AI), but fuck me, on first impressions this is literally god mode presentation

If your background is CCaaS then that’s a bit niche so probably try and emphasise the integrations with any MS Platforms - Teams, O365, SharePoint, Dynamics CRM etc.

Yeah, As i said i think they a looking for an all-rounder.  My CV is heavy on the stakeholder focus. They must have liked that.  I'm also in the running for a big juicy 6-month contract position with another company on a Contact Centre Transformation project.  Moving to Amazon Connect by all accounts. Much more my thing so I hope I get that one.

Anyway will build a proper Prezi presentation over the weekend (using some of the advice you lads have kindly provided) and go for it.

Can't help you on the nuclear side

I don't think the job will entail going anywhere near a reactor thank fuck. 

[Buck Pete]

I'm also in the running for a big juicy 6-month contract position with another company on a Contact Centre Transformation project. 

Not confident I'll get the job with the Nuclear client.  I think I went too heavy on the technical and not enough on Team management/collab etc.

But... I did adapt and send a copy of the presentation to the recruiter running with the Contact Centre transformation PM role I really want.  By all accounts the hiring manager loved it.  So interview tomorrow afternoon.

So thanks for all the advice guys.

This CC PM role in the retail sector for a massive UK electronics retailer moving their CC from on-prem to the cloud.

The recruiter tells me that the hiring manager is a down-to-earth, personable delivery manager.  Culture fit is very important to him and he is looking for someone who can communicate well and work well alongside the software development teams.

I've got experience working with Dev teams using DevOps.  Agile env, sprints, etc. So should be good

Any tips on what I should focus on to impress this fella during the competency questions tomorrow? Re: culture and being an all-round good egg etc

cheers in advance

[PaulF]

Any tips on what I should focus on to impress this fella during the competency questions tomorrow? Re: culture and being an all-round good egg etc

cheers in advance

Have you asked the recruiter what sort of culture they have?